Detonating fuse



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,603

J. S. BARKER DETONATING FUSE Filed May 25. 1.922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiGURE 2 JOHN S DAHY'BE fivvfinme.

ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1927. I 1,648,603

J. 5. BARKER DETONATING FUSE Filed May 25, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHN 5. @{JEKER LR loam 1 Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,648,603 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BARKER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DETONATING FUSE.

Application filed May 25,

The subject of this invention is a det0nating fuse intended primarily for use with explosive shells though capable of use with other forms of projectile.

The object of my invention is the provislon of a fuse which is safe in handling and during transportation, certain of its funct1on ing when fired from a gun and which can be set for quick or delayed action.

- It is well understood by those familiar with the necessities of warfare that, for maximum effect it is essential that some projectiles should be bursted immediately on contact with the target and before penetration by the projectile. This effect is re quired when it is desired to scatter the fragments of a shell over a wide area. When a mining efiect for blowing up buildings or destroying trenches is required, it is essential that the shells shall penetrate deeply into the earth or other target before detonation takes place and this calls for a delayed action of the fuse.

Heretofore it has been the custom to make fuses either for quick action or delayed ac tion and the relative numbers of each with which the projectiles should be fused has been practically a matter of guess work.

I My invention provides a fuse to meet every demand so that all projectiles can be provided with the single type and set for the required action, in only a few seconds,

to meet the exigencies of the occassion. This will not only add to the efficiency of the gunners but will greatly reduce the difficulties of supply.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of theinvention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of whatis claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

One practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of'a fuse constructed in accordance with the invention, the parts shown set for quick action 1 and in unarmed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts set for delayed action, a fragmentary outline of a shell, in which the fuse is secured,

1922. Serial No. 563,475.

also shown. In this view the parts are shown in armed position.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable container comprising a fuse head 10 which is connected, preferably by threaded engagement as shown, with a fuse body 11. The nose of the fuse head is bored and tapped to receive a striker casing 12 provided with an internal annular shoulder 12' and in which is slidably mounted a striker consisting of a striker head 13 terminating at its rear end in a flange portion 14, a rod 15, a screw threaded portion 16, and firing pin 17. The screw threaded portion 16 is adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded aperture 16 formed in the rear end of the casing so as to retain the striker out of operation when desired, and the rod 15 and threaded portion 16 are so designed that the rod will buckle under a crushing stress before the threads of the portion 16 will shear. The striker may be releasably held in its forward position by means of a coiled spring 13 which surrounds the striker and is confined between the flange 14 and the rear end of the casing 15 The fuse 10 is formed with a cavity 18 into which projects a stationary firing pin 19, suitably secured in the head 10, and within the cavity is mounted a plunger 20 which is free to move rectilinearly, but is constrained against rotary movement with re spect to the body by a pin 21 which is mounted in the head and projects into a groove extending longitudinally of the plunger.

The plunger is normally retained on its seat at the rear end of the cavity by a spring 22 which is confined between the plunger and the head 10. An aperture 23 is formed axially of the plunger through which the firing pin 17 is adapted to pass and a second aperture is formed in the plunger, off center, for the reception of the primer cap 24 and powder column 25 and this second aperture is in communication with a flash duct 26 which opens at the rear face of the plunger.

When the fuse is unarmed the plunger is looked upon its seat by the pins 27 mounted in radially disposed apertures for ned in the head and held in their innermost position by springs 28, confined between the pins and plugs 29 which close the apertures.

The body is further provided with a recess 30 formed eccentrically of the body and in communication with the cavity 18 but, when the fuse is assembled, preferably separated therefrom by a disc 31 which is centrally apertured to permit the passage therethrough of the firing pin 17 and the flash from the flash duct 26. Within the recess 30 is mounted a rotor 32 adapted to oscillate on a pin 33 and this rotor is normally held against oscillation by pins 34 slidable in radially disposed apertures formed in the body and normally held in their innermost position by springs 35 which are confined between the pins and plugs 36 which close the apertures.

The rotor is of irregular form, as seen most clearly in Figures 3 and 4, and is so proportioned that its center of gravity-falls outside of its pivot axis or at 37. The rotor is provided with an aperture for the reception of a detonator 38, and with a recess 39 normally in position to receive the firing pin 17 when the pin is moved to its rearmost position, and also with a radially disposed recess in which is slidably mounted a pin 40 moved by centrifugal force to enter a recess 41 formed in the body when the rotor is moved to armed position and thus lock the rotor in such position. The amplitude oscillation of the rotor may be limited by a pin 42 projecting from the body and in position to engage the rotor.

The rear end of the body is formed with a cavity 43 which is in communication with a recess 30 through a passage 44 and the cavity and passage may be packed wit-h a booster charge 45 which may be confined within the cavity and passage by a thin metal cap 46 and a disc 47.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the device is set for quick action, the striker is unscrewed as shown in Fig. 1. Upon explosion of the propellant charge the projectile is placed in rapidly accelerated forward motion through the barrel of the gun, which motion will,because of the inertia of the parts, cause the striker to set back so that its pin 17 enters the cavity 39 of the rotor. When the projectile leaves the mouth of the gun acceleration ceases and the spring 13 will then force the striker forwardly. As the projectile is forced through the bore of the gun it is given a rotation about its axis by the rifling. This rotation. which is necessary to stabilize the projectile during its forces and the inertia of the rotor and looking pins causes ,them to set back with great pressure upon their supports. This creates friction that is suflicient to keep them from arming until the shell has left the gun. When acceleration has ceased however centrifugal force will cause the pins 27 and 34 to move radially and compress the springs 28 and 35, respectively, thereby arming the plunger 20 and the rotor 32. The rotor will then oscillate under the action of centrifugal force from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to that shown in Figs. 2 and 4, bringing the detonator 38 in line with the axis of the fuse and in position to be engaged by the firing pin' 17 of the striker, in

whichposition it will be held by the pin 40 entering the recess 41. When'the projectile contacts a target the striker is forced rear- Wardly and the pin 17 detonates the detonator 38 which, in turn, initiates detonation of the booster charge 45 thereby detonating the explosive charge in the shell.

When it is desired to use the fuse as delayed action fuse, the striker is given a few turns toengage the threads 16 with the threaded aperture in the casing 12. Upon firing the projectile from a gun centrifugal force will cause the pins 27 and 34 to move radially freeing the-plunger and the rotor 32 respectively. The rotor will then oscillate as before to armed position, in which position it will be locked by the'pin 4O entering the cavity 41. When the shell strikes a target the striker rod 15, if the target offers sufficient'resistance, will be crushed, the plunger 20 will'move forward by reason of its inertia, the primer 24 will impinge upon the pin 19 causing detonation of the primer and igniting the slow burning powder column which will in turn flash through the duct 26 causing detonation of the detonator 38 and, consequently, of the booster charge 45 and explosive charge in the shell.

I claim: 1. A fuse, including a head, a body secured to the head, a striker casing secured to the head, a striker mounted in the casing, cooperating means carried by the striker and casing to hold the striker in inoperative or to release the same to operative positions, a detonator mounted in the body and in position to be functioned by the striker, a fixed firing pin carried by the head, a plunger in the head, a slow burning explosive carried by the plunger in position to'be ignited by contact with the firing pin and to detonate the detonator and centrifugal actuating means normally locking the parts in unarmed position.

2. A fuse, including a plunger slidable longitudinally of the fuse, centrifugal actuating means normally locking the plunger in unarmed position, a striker, means for locking the striker in inoperative posit-ion, adetonator carried by the fuse in position to be engaged bythe striker, a fixed firing in mounted in the fuse and a column of s 0W burning explosive carried by the plunger and adapted to impinge upon the pin and detonate the detonator.

3. A fuse, including a detonator carried by the fuse, a striker carried by the fuse for functioning the detonator for quick action,

means for securing the striker in inoperative position and auxlliary delay action means for detonating the detonator, said means acting in conjunction with or independently of the quick action striker.

4. A' fuse, including a centrifugally movable member, a detonator carried by the member and normally held in unarmed position, means released by centrifugal force for locking said member in unarmed position, means actuated by centrifugal force for locking said member in armed position, a movable striker adapted to function the detonator when in armed position, means for securing the striker in inoperative position to render the fuse a delay action fuse, a fixed firing pin, a plunger encircling the striker, a primer cap carried by the plunger in position to engage the fixed firing pin upon forward movement of the plunger, a column of slow burning explosive carried by the plunger and in position to be ignited by theprimer cap and to function the detonatorand means released bycentrifugal force for normally locking the plunger in unarmed position.

5. ,A fuse,- including a detonator carried by the fuse, a plunger formed with acentral aperture, a slow burning explosive carried by the plunger and positioned to detonate the detonatorpa striker adapted to pass through the aperture and function the detonator upon impact and a fixed firing pin in position to engage the column of explosive upon forward movement of the plunger.

6. A fuse, including a detonator carried by the fuse, an axially movable striker adapted to function the detonator instantly upon the, impact of the fuse, a fixed firing pin, a plunger, means carried by the plunger and engaged by the pin upon forward movement of the plunger on impact of the fuse to initiate delayed detonation of the detonator, and means to render said striker inoperative.

7. A fuse, including a detonator carried by the fuse, a striker adapted to function the detonator upon impact of the fuse, means for securing the striker in inoperative position when the fuse is set for delayed action,

a fixed firing pin, a plunger and means carried by the plunger and engaged by the firing pin upon forward movement of the plunger for detonating the detonator with a delayed action.

8. A fuse, including a detonator, an axially movable striker for functioning the detonator at impact, delay action means for forward of the securing means will yield under stress of impact Without rupturing the securing means.

9. In a point detonating fuse the combination with the body portion of a detonating charge supported thereby and to independent means for firing the same, one of said means including a member projecting axially in advance of the fuse and manually movable into or out of operative relationship to the detonating charge. a

10. In a point detonating fuse the combination with the body portion of a detonating charge supported thereby and two independent means for firing the same, one of saidmeans including'a member projectin axially in advance of the fuse and secure to the head for axial adjustment relatively thereto and acting to cause firing of the detonator in one position of adjustment and to be rendered inoperative in a second position.

11. In a detonating fuse, the combination with the body portion of a detonating charge supported thereby and two independent means for firing the same, one of said means including an element movable axially'of the fuse to render the means operative or inoperative.

12. Ina detonating fuse, the combination with the body portion of a detonating charge supported thereby and two independent means for firing the same, each means including a firing pin supporting member-normally rigidly connected to the fuse body, one of said members being disconnectable from the fuse body to have limited movement longitudinally thereof, for the purpose set forth.

13. In a deto'nating fuse, the combination with the body portion of a detonating charge supported thereby and two independent means for operating the same, each such means including a firing pin supporting member normally rigidly connected to the fuse body, one of said members being threaded to the body and having a portion extending without t-te fuse. so that It may be disconnected by rotation, for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination with a projectile of afuse secured to the projectile point, and a member permanently secured to the fuse and extending axially in advance thereof, said member being adjustable to have either rigid connection with the fuse or to have a limited movement rearwardly thereof uponand extending axially in advance thereof, said member being threaded to the fuse so as to be rigid therewith but being rotatable so that the interengaging threa fled portions may he disengaged to allow said member to have limited axial rearward movement relatively to the fuse upon impact, for the purpose set forth.

16. A fuse including, dela action tiring means. quick action liring mean. and a detonator norlually unarmed and moved during flight to position to he acted upon by either firing means.

17. A fuse including, delay action firing means, quick action firing means, a rotor and a detonator carried by the rotor and normally unarmed and moved during flight to a position to be acted upon by either firing means. l

18. A fuse including, a firing pin and a, normally unarmed detonator retained in unarmed position by-the firing pin during setback of the pin.

19. A fuse including, a thing pin, a rotor, and a detonator carried by the rotor and normally in unarmed position, the rotor engaged by the firing pm on set-hack of the pin to retain the (letonator in unarmed position during set-back.

JOHN S. BARKER. 

